THE ONLY WOMAN HE COULD NOT LOSE

Chapter 1 — The Marriage of Convenience

At twenty-nine, Adrian Vale had already learned not to believe in love.

As the only son of the powerful Vale family, he had inherited a business empire before he had even learned how to enjoy an ordinary life. His grandfather had built Vale Holdings from a small trading company into one of the most influential corporations in the country.

Adrian had only one rule:

Never let emotions interfere with business.

That rule was the reason he accepted the marriage arranged by his family.

His bride was Elena Hart, the daughter of a wealthy investor whose company was preparing to merge with Vale Holdings.

The marriage would secure the partnership.

Nothing more.

At their engagement dinner, Adrian barely looked at her.

“This marriage will last two years,” he said calmly. “After the merger is completed, we can decide whether to continue.”

Elena stared at him for several seconds before smiling faintly.

“You don’t have to pretend to love me.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

She nodded.

“Good. Then we understand each other.”

Their wedding was elegant, expensive, and completely emotionless.

In front of hundreds of guests, Adrian placed the ring on Elena’s finger.

His expression never changed.

But Elena whispered softly,

“Don’t worry. I won’t ask you for anything.”

For the first few months, they lived like strangers sharing the same house.

Adrian left early every morning and returned late at night.

Elena occupied herself with managing the charity foundation her late mother had established.

They rarely argued.

They rarely spoke.

And neither expected that to change.

Until one rainy evening.

Adrian returned home to find Elena standing alone in the dining room.

Her face was pale.

On the table lay several photographs.

They showed her entering a hotel with a young man she barely knew.

Adrian picked them up.

“What’s this?”

“I don’t know.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

Elena looked at him.

“I was invited there because your cousin Marcus said your grandmother wanted to meet me.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

“Marcus?”

“Yes.”

Before Adrian could respond, his phone rang.

It was his mother.

Her voice was furious.

“Adrian, your wife has embarrassed this family.”

Within an hour, the entire Vale family was accusing Elena of having an affair.

The photographs had already been sent anonymously to several business partners.

The scandal threatened the merger.

Adrian stood in the middle of the family meeting, surrounded by people who had known him since childhood.

His uncle demanded that he divorce Elena immediately.

His grandmother agreed.

“She has become a liability.”

Elena sat quietly beside Adrian.

She knew she had no place in this family.

She had no power.

No allies.

Perhaps Adrian would choose the same path as everyone else.

Then Adrian suddenly placed the photographs on the table.

“Who took these?”

Nobody answered.

He looked toward Marcus.

“You arranged the meeting.”

Marcus froze.

“I—I only delivered the invitation.”

Adrian’s voice became colder.

“Then why does the hotel security record show that you never left the building?”

Silence filled the room.

For the first time, Elena looked at her husband differently.

Adrian stood.

“This marriage may have started as a transaction.”

He looked around the table.

“But no one will destroy my wife to protect their own interests.”

His grandmother’s expression hardened.

“Are you choosing her over your family?”

Adrian glanced at Elena.

Then he answered quietly.

“Tonight, yes.”

It was the first time Adrian had ever defended her.

And neither of them knew that it was only the beginning.